The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-11-24
STAGE ROBBERS.
An Americans Adventures with
Mexican Road Agents.

Mr.. Edgar Wood had two thousand
silver dollars in ten-dOllar rolls nicely
packed in valise with a few toilet ar.
ticles, and twelve thousand dollars in
bank-notes and bills of exchange
snugly sewed into a thin belt worn
about his person. In an outside belt,
elegantly embroidered, he wore a SUI
perbly jeweled revolver, warranted to
be useful as a weapon at long range,
in the hand of self-collected man
resting under safe shelter.
As TO other personal furniture, his
comfortable figure was adorned with a
fine gold watch, possessing national
reputation for beauty and value
throughout the Republic Of Mexico.
and hat covered with gold lace and
bangles that made it the envy of all the
beauX in town.
Under these conditions Mr. Edgar
Wood entered the ten-mule stage, that
stood in the patio of the Hotel Itur-
bide, for a trip down the country to
pay of three thousand laborers a
months wages.
The stage started out amid the usual
hubbub The driver gathered up his
lines, shouted ut all the mules to-
gether and at each mule by name.
The assistant driver seized the whip
and added its resounding crack to his
vociferous entreaties and denuncia-
lions. The two outriderS ran along
the sides of the team, shouted, and
.swore, and peltcd the mules with
stones, while ten bows of cow-b bells,
suspended above the ten collars, added
their clangor to the confusion, and the
whole cortege rolled over the toughest
-conUio-stone pavement on the Ameri-
can continent awakening an angry
city from its comfortable s'umbers.
The wealthy contractor was alone
that morning, and he occupied every
corner of the stage in such rapid sue
-cession and varied positions that. if the
City of Mexico had been twice as broad
as it was, he must have been a dis
agreeable jelly before reaching the
suburbs. AS it was. however, the
grand exhibition of style and enter
prise was soon over and the team
settled down to the comfortable habit
of the country, a very slow trot on
rather soft roads, while tho passenger
settled himself in the corner, lighted a
Vera Cruz cigar, and began to indulge
in the pleasures of imagination.
This month";" he considered. twill
cost me twenty thousand dollars, for
which outlay the government pays me
one hundred thousand dollars, which
is eighty thousand dollars clear gain.
In two more l shall be in good trim,
and then l shall ask old Juarez for
Emilia l think she admired me last
night when l said my adieu;" and he
looked ut his pistol. his fine watch and
elegant hat, Snd-a rifle-ball whistled
through the coach-window, followed
by command of ':PdrarSe" (halt).
There is no discussing such an order
given under such circumstances.
1t was not possible for Mr.. Wood to
say just how he looked, but he feltvery
pale, when a pleasant gentlemanly
voice at the window inquired: Have
the honor of addressing Senior Edgaro
Wood?"
'That is my name, SIR"
"Ah. Don Edgaro. 1 am so sorry to
have to modest you in your journey,
but won't you do me the favor to alight
for monlent?n
Now, if there was one quality on
which that gentleman prided himself
more than on another, it was the